Treatment

The goal of treatment is to get rid of the infection and reduce damage to the bone and surrounding tissues.

Antibiotics are given to destroy the bacteria causing the infection:

You may receive more than one antibiotic at a time.

Antibiotics are taken for at least 4 to 6 weeks, often at home through an IV
(intravenously, meaning through a vein).

Surgery may be needed to remove dead bone tissue if you have an infection that does not go away:

If there are metal plates near the infection, they may need to be removed.

The open space left by the removed bone tissue may be filled with bone graft
or packing material. This promotes the growth of new bone tissue.

Infection that occurs after joint replacement may requiare surgery to remove the replaced joint and infected tissue in the area. A new prosthesis may be implanted in the same operation. More often, doctors wait until the infection has gone away.

If you have diabetes, it will need to be well controlled. If there are problems with blood supply
to the infected area, such as the foot, surgery to improve blood flow may be needed to get rid of the infection.

Outlook (Prognosis)

With treatment, the outcome for acute osteomyelitis is usually good.

The outlook is worse for those with long-term (chronic) osteomyelitis. Symptoms may come and go for years, even with surgery. Amputation may be needed, especially in people with diabetes or poor blood circulation.

The outlook for people with an infection of a prosthesis depends partly on:

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